What is Behcet's disease ? (syndrome)• It is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology
- Viral.!? - Autoimmune.!?
• Plus two of:
- Uveitis or retinal vasculitis
- Skin lesions e.g erythema nodosum.
- Recurrent genital ulcers.
- Positive pathergy test
Oligoarthritis, thrombophlebitis and neurobehcet (multiple sclerosis like) may also occur.
- Viral.!? - Autoimmune.!?
• Diagnostic criteria of Behcet's disease ?
- Recurrent oral ulcers, at least three times in a 12 month period.• Plus two of:
- Uveitis or retinal vasculitis
- Skin lesions e.g erythema nodosum.
- Recurrent genital ulcers.
- Positive pathergy test
Oligoarthritis, thrombophlebitis and neurobehcet (multiple sclerosis like) may also occur.
Treatment of Behcet's disease ?
• Oral ulcers can be treated by topical steroids.
• Colchicine is effective for erythema nodosum and arthralgia.
• Systemic steroids in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs for systemic manifestations e.g ocular or neurological disease.
The pathergy test or reaction is highly specific to Behcet's disease .
Skin inflammatory reactivity to any scratches or intradermal saline injection,, this leads to papule or pustule formation within 24-48 hours .